The bright southern hemisphere star RS Puppis, at the center of the image, is surrounded by reflective dust that is illuminated by the star. RS Puppis rhythmically brightens and dims over a six-week cycle. It is one of the most luminous in the class of so-called Cepheid variable stars. Hubble took a series of photos of light flashes rippling across the nebula in a phenomenon known as a "light echo."

The Hubble Telescope has been active for nearly a quarter of a century. Here are some of the telescope’s most striking images—a tiny fraction of the things it’s seen and the images it’s sent home in its long and productive life.

When I look at such wonders it makes me think how small and insignificant man is. And then it hits me that even the smallest of God's creations, even man, is as amazing as the biggest star cluster. And somehow I then sense the Whole Mystery in even the smallest part and for a brief moment the Wonder of it all takes my breath away. At least until the phone rings....